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Back Pain | Dr. Hamza Beghdadi, Chiropractor in Montreal

Relieve back pain through a targeted postural and spinal evaluation

Back pain that sets in on Monday morning at the screen, pain in the back at the slightest wrong move, a back that "locks up" after a session of shovelling: behind these situations there is almost always a specific mechanical reason in your spine. At the clinic of Dr. Hamza Beghdadi, chiropractor, we start by finding it before proposing a care plan. Dr. Beghdadi has been a chiropractor for more than ten years, a graduate of the Université du Québec à Trois-Rivières (UQTR). He uses the CBP (Chiropractic BioPhysics) technique, an approach that precisely measures the postural causes of your problem before treating. Two clinics: Roxboro (West Island) and Villeray.

Book an appointment with Dr. Beghdadi, chiropractor, for a personalized chiropractic evaluation

A complete examination at the first visit, with no commitment on your part to undertake a care plan. You leave with a clear chiropractic diagnosis.

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Why consult Dr. Hamza Beghdadi, chiropractor, for your back pain

Many chiropractors in Montreal address back pain. Here is what sets Dr. Beghdadi, chiropractor, apart. Wondering why consult a chiropractor? To find where your pain comes from without resorting to medication or surgery.

  • CBP technique: posture precisely measured before every decision.
  • More than ten years of practice since UQTR in 2013.
  • Dual scientific background: biochemistry (Université de Montréal) and a doctorate in chiropractic. Doctor of Chiropractic (D.C.) trained in the central nervous system and chiropractic diagnosis.
  • Complete examination at the first visit: assessment, orthopedic tests, neurological tests, palpation, postural examination, X-ray if needed.
  • Care plan explained before treatment begins.
  • Member of the Ordre des chiropraticiens du Québec (OCQ).

The CBP technique, and why it matters for your back pain

The CBP (Chiropractic BioPhysics) technique is an uncommon approach in chiropractic: instead of relying on impression, it is built on precise measurements of your posture and the natural shape of your spine. The plan combines three tools: chiropractic adjustment following the Mirror Image® principle (a movement opposite to your imbalance), exercises at the clinic and at home, and spinal traction that gently stretches the spine.

Why does it matter? Posture determines the pressure on your intervertebral discs (the cushions between your vertebrae), the small joints of your back, and the muscles along your spine. Returning the spine to a more natural position reduces that pressure in a lasting way.

What is back pain? Lumbalgia, dorsalgia, and lower back pain explained

"Back pain" or "a sore back" covers several realities.

  • Lumbalgia: low back pain, in the lumbar region between the lower ribs and the pelvis (the most frequent area). Lower back pain can be central or pull to one side (right or left lower back pain).
  • Dorsalgia: upper back pain, between the shoulder blades, often caused by prolonged work in front of a screen.
  • Rachialgia: a general term. In Quebec, lumbago, "tour de rein," or lumbar sprain refer to acute low back pain.

Eight Canadians out of ten will experience lower back pain at some point. It is one of the leading causes of disability in the country: it is better to address it early.

Acute back pain and chronic back pain: duration changes the care plan

Acute low back pain lasts less than six weeks, triggered by a wrong move, an effort, a blow. Chronic back pain, or chronic low back pain, lasts three months or more. Chronic low back pain signals that a maintaining factor keeps feeding the pain: posture, weakened muscles, repeated movement. This difference changes the plan. Recent pain calls for a few closely spaced sessions to calm the inflammation. The chiropractic treatment of chronic lower back pain calls for a more complete approach over several weeks.

Common symptoms and warning signs: what we document at the first visit

Typical symptoms of lower back or upper back pain

  • a dull or throbbing pain, in the lower back or between the shoulder blades (upper back pain),
  • stiffness in the morning or after sitting for a long time,
  • pain that travels down into the buttock, thigh, or leg (an irritated or pinched nerve),
  • tingling, numbness, or pins and needles in a leg,
  • a weaker leg, an area of skin that "responds" less,

Intense pain and warning signs requiring urgent medical attention

  • loss of bladder or bowel control,
  • loss of sensation between the legs or around the seat (possible cauda equina syndrome, a medical emergency),
  • a progressively weaker leg,
  • fever, unexplained weight loss, pain so severe at night that it wakes you.

Do you recognize your symptoms? Book a chiropractic evaluation

A chiropractic evaluation clarifies what is happening in your back and identifies the care that suits you.

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Causes and risk factors of lower back and upper back pain

Back pain rarely results from a single event. Several factors add up (posture, lifestyle, repeated efforts, an old injury) until the body can no longer compensate.

Causes mécaniques fréquentes, posture, traumatismes, charges et sédentarité

Frequent mechanical causes — posture, trauma, loads, and a sedentary lifestyle. Causes identified at the clinic:

  • Poor posture at work or in front of the screen. Remote work amplifies this phenomenon.
  • Sedentary lifestyle: weakened muscles, vertebrae and discs (the shock-absorbing cushions) less protected.
  • Repetitive movements and prolonged positions, which accumulate small injuries.
  • Heavy loads lifted incorrectly. In Quebec, shovelling, raking autumn leaves, snow removal, and changing tires often trigger acute low back pain.
  • Trauma: a wrong move, a fall on the ice, an accident, a sports impact. Back trauma leaves traces.
  • Underlying conditions: osteoarthritis (joint wear), scoliosis, wear of an intervertebral disc with age, or a pinched nerve that follows the path of the sciatic nerve toward the leg (sciatic pain).
  • Chronic stress, which tenses the muscles along the spine.

Posture is central: it is what postural correction targets.

Back pain during pregnancy, pregnancy-related musculoskeletal pain

Pregnancy changes your posture: the belly forward shifts the centre of gravity, accentuates the curve of the lower back (the lumbar lordosis), and puts pressure on the joints between the pelvis and the spine (the sacroiliac joints). Many pregnant women feel lower back pain, especially in the second and third trimesters.

A chiropractic evaluation identifies the areas that pull (pelvis, muscles, ligaments) and proposes gentle adjustments adapted to each trimester throughout the pregnancy.

Our postural chiropractic approach and spinal alignment

Before medication or surgery, the recommended approach for the majority of back pain is conservative (manual, exercises, postural correction). What sets Dr. Beghdadi, chiropractor, apart: he always evaluates your posture and the alignment of your spine first, because those are what make back pain return.

Chiropractic evaluation and postural analysis

The first visit:

  • A discussion of your pain (history): since when, how, what aggravates and relieves it.
  • Orthopedic tests: Dr. Beghdadi has you move to identify the structures involved.
  • Neurological examination and physical examination: reflexes, strength, sensation to check whether the nerves are affected.
  • Postural examination from several angles: the deviations from normal are measured.
  • X-rays or medical imaging if needed.

You leave with a clear chiropractic diagnosis and a game plan.

The CBP (Chiropractic BioPhysics) technique applied to correcting the spinal curves

The rigour of CBP: posture measured, a plan adapted to your measurements, progress tracked. Three tools:

  • Mirror Image® chiropractic adjustments: your vertebrae are guided in the direction opposite to your imbalance.
  • Personalized postural exercises at the clinic and at home.
  • Corrective spinal traction, which acts gently on the ligaments and tendons.

More details on the page devoted to postural correction.

Chiropractic care and a personalized treatment plan

Chiropractic care may include: targeted adjustments, spinal manipulation, joint mobilizations, techniques on the muscles and soft tissues, therapeutic exercises (stretching, strengthening, corrective exercises), and ergonomic advice. The goal: to recover lost mobility.

Your plan is presented at the second visit. You know in advance what will be done and for how long. Also read the article on how chiropractic care can help with back pain.

Let's discuss your pain at a first evaluation

Having a clear chiropractic diagnosis is better than continuing to wonder. The initial evaluation lasts about an hour.

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How to relieve back pain day to day: prevention and postural habits

To keep your back pain from returning, your daily habits matter as much as the care at the clinic. In addition to advice on improving your posture:

  • Good posture sitting, standing, and moving.
  • A well-adjusted workspace: screen at eye level, elbows close to the body, feet flat.
  • Strengthen the back muscles: core work, pelvic movements.
  • Stay active: walking, swimming, an activity that suits you.
  • Lift by bending the knees, for grocery bags as for the snow shovel.
  • Active breaks when you sit for a long time.
  • Good sleep on a mattress that supports you well.

Also read the importance of good posture.

Want a personalized plan rather than generic advice?

A personalized care plan takes your posture, your history, and your pace of life into account.

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Frequently asked questions about back pain

Back pain: what to do first to relieve the pain?

In the acute phase, the first 24 to 48 hours, avoid the movements that hurt without staying immobile in bed. An early chiropractic consultation helps find where the pain comes from before it settles in. Over-the-counter anti-inflammatories relieve symptoms but do not address the cause.

How many sessions are needed to treat lower back pain?

The number varies from one person to another. Recent pain often improves in a few visits. Chronic back pain calls for several weeks. Chiropractic care is generally covered by supplementary insurance (Blue Cross, Manulife, SSQ, Desjardins, etc.): check your coverage with your insurer.

Are chiropractic adjustments safe for back pain during pregnancy?

Yes, because the chiropractor adapts the care to the condition of the pregnant patient. Adjustments adapted to pregnancy relieve the muscular and joint pain related to the body's changes. Your chiropractor adapts your position and the force of the manipulations to each trimester. (Discuss any particular medical condition during the consultation.)

Is an MRI or X-ray needed before consulting a chiropractor?

No. The chiropractic examination begins with a discussion and a clinical examination that guide the diagnosis. An X-ray or medical imaging is requested only if needed. An MRI may be recommended by your chiropractor if judged necessary. Bring your recent exams if you have them.

When should you consult a chiropractor for back pain that keeps coming back?

A regular recurrence signals that a maintaining factor has not been resolved: posture, weak muscles, alignment, or a movement habit. Regular upkeep between flare-ups makes it possible to act on the cause and help prevent back pain that returns, rather than relieving it only when it strikes.

Can chiropractic help if my back pain is caused by a herniated disc or sciatica?

Yes, in the majority of non-surgical cases. For a herniated disc, the postural chiropractic approach reduces the pressure on the affected disc. For sciatic pain or lumbosciatica, the goal is to find where the nerve is pinched and to act at that spot.